Support worker charged in death of Ontario senior

Pickering
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A female Personal Support Worker (PSW) has been charged in the death of an elderly patient at Community Nursing Home on Valley Farm Road in Pickering. The victim died as a result of injuries from a fall.

According to Durham Police the suspect was an employee of the nursing home where the fall occurred. On March 20, 2011 the suspect moved the victim, a 91-year-old female, by herself violating the resident’s personal care plan and the home’s policy of using two employees and a mechanical lift for moving incapacitated residents. It is believed that during the move the resident sustained a leg injury from a fall. The fall was not officially reported to supervisors. The staff noticed the leg injury over the next few days and on March 23 the victim was taken to Ajax-Pickering Hospital. She was diagnosed with a fractured femur.

A family member called the police to report the injury. The victim suffered from advanced Alzheimer’s and dementia and was non-communicative. Due to complications from the leg injury the victim died on April 4.

According to the police report investigators with the West Division Criminal Investigations Bureau interviewed multiple people and received the full cooperation of the nursing home operators and staff. The PSW was asked to attend West Division on May 24, 2011 and was arrested and held for a bail hearing.

Diane Peck, 34, has been charged with criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide to person under charge the necessities of life.